Mentality and width: the important lessons of Belgium – FIFA World Cup

Martinez's Jokers take the turn

Escaped with a black eye and yet full of confidence: the Belgian national team celebrated the last-minute victory against Japan, having it relegated to 0-2. After the match, the joy of going forward prevailed, but it was supported by two important lessons: coach Roberto Martinez can fill the bench. In addition, the setting is correct.

Jubilation after 3-2: On the catching up of Belgium Marouane Fellaini and Nacer Chadli (o.) Played a major role against Japan

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Romelu Lukaku scored four goals at the 2018 World Cup. against Japan, the strong Manchester United striker failed to score a fifth goal that would have allowed Harry Kane to be on the list of top scorers. And yet, Lukaku had a big share in the goal of Belgium at the last minute against the Samurai Blue Monday night. Although he did not touch the ball.

Lukakus plays a big role

It was the fourth minute of time off when Japan got another corner in a staggering and intense match. Defeated and tired, the Japanese had ensured their standard with only two players in the median line. The center started with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, saw the opportunity and quickly threw the ball to Kevin De Bruyne, who sped up. Now, the counter-attack has continued and Lukaku has assumed a key role. At full speed, the 25-year-old rushed from the right wing, firing his opponent with him, opening the way for Thomas Meunier, who was handed the ball. The sprint completely unattended up to the right corner of the penalty area. His pass in front of goal would have served the Lukaku striker perfectly – but he had another idea, letting the ball pass, misleading his opponents and opening Nacer Chadli in the back with the opportunity to cut back. gap a short distance to save 3: 2 complete.

The story of the evening is written by the Joker

"Lukaku has scored 17 goals in eleven matches for Belgium, but his decision not to shoot on this occasion could be more important than that." something else, "said the Guardian. Lukaku had paved the way for the last Belgians with his run and his "elimination of a shot" – but he left the evening's story to the jokers of Coach Martinez.

After a real shock in the second period, they still had deliverance progressed. It's a double-strike from Genki Haraguchi (48th) and Takashi Inui (52), which allowed Japan to take a two-goal lead and suddenly pushed Belgium to the brink of retirement. "It's like that at a World Cup," said Martinez. "You are under pressure."

Continued development since the quarter-finals of 2014?

"Putting the team back on track": The Belgian Roberto Martinez s "; maintains with Nacer Chadli shortly before his substitution.

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A test was underway and the question was whether Belgium four years after the bitter 0: 1 against Argentina The quarterfinals of the World Cup would be one more step in its evolution. Martinez first felt compelled to give an impulse from the outside. In the 65th minute, the Spaniard brought Marouane Fellaini and Chadli in the match and thus the expected send shot. Because Fellaini was now acting in the right half-space and on the front line as a kind of ram. Chadli stormed the left wing

The duo did not participate directly in the happy goal of Jan Vertonghen. Four minutes later, however, Fellaini defeated the Japanese defense and balanced a 2-2 lead in the goal. "The changes have borne fruit, we have 23 players in our team, and if there are players who get tired, others are ready to put the team back on track, and that is The coach told us and Marouane. " Chadli described the words of Martinez shortly before his substitution against the Belgian "Sport Voetbal Magazine". When it's 0-2, you think it's over for a while. "[19659019] Thomas Meunier

This may have been Belgium's important lesson tonight, as strong as the first Red Devil elf is – the second guard is also able to put accents It is therefore in the last group match against England, for which Martinez has traded all ten championships, that it was already Adnan Januzaj, author of the decisive goal.This time, the changes even helped to catch up by two goals The squad's width is correct And also the mentality

Martinez can say "Nothing Negative"

"When it's 0-2, you think it's over for a while, but we had to win, you must be able to overcome those difficult times and we've done it, "said Meunier Martinez hit the same score. There is nothing negative to say today, it was just to go from the front, to the day it is a day when I am proud of the players. "For the first time since the World Cup in 1966, Belgium had managed to win in the regular season after a deficit of two goals (Portugal imposed against North Korea after a score of 0: 3 with 5: 3). But Belgium faces another major challenge: Brazil. "For any footballer, it's a dream," said Eden Hazard, who could see very positive in the match against Japan. "Maybe we needed a game like this today and we realized we could quit very quickly."

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